Cambridge, July 21 [1775].
Capt. John Darby, who sailed from Salem for London a few days after the Battle of Lexington, returned last Tuesday [July 18], and the same day came to Head-Quarters in this place. Very little Intelligence has yet transpired we only learn, that the News of the Commencement of the American War has threw the people in England, especially the city of London, into great Consternation, and occasioned a considerable Fall in the Stocks. That the Ministry (knowing nothing of the Battle till they saw it published in the London papers) advertised in the Gazette, that they had received no Account of any action, and pretended to believe that there had been none: that the Parliament was prorogued two Days before Capt. Darby arrived, but it was said would be immediately called together again: that, when he left London, which was about the 1st of June, no account of Hostilities had been received by the Ministry from General Gage, notwithstanding the Vessel he despatched sailed four Days before Capt. Darby.